Fleeing Kershaw man arrested in dumpster after striking deputy

Kershaw County deputies arrested a fugitive accused car thief in the Lugoff area who had tried to kill another deputy with a stolen pickup truck, Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews said today.

The deputy was struck by the pickup truck but was treated and released at a Kershaw County hospital.

The suspect, Richard Daniel Altman, 49, was later found hiding in a dumpster. He was charged with car theft and assault and battery with intent to kill.

Altman has a lengthy criminal record  including charges of burglary, narcotics, car theft, receiving stolen goods, assault, housebreaking, criminal domestic violence and many others  and Matthews questioned why he was even out of prison.

"The citizens with whom I talk are very frustrated and angry at the justice system that puts these criminals back on the street to continue stealing and breaking into homes and businesses," Matthews said, who was sworn in last week as the new sheriff.